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Overview

From starlets to stars

According to Argentina's 2006 FIFA World Cup™ coach Jose
Pekerman, the FIFA U-17 World Cup provides youngsters with the
ideal preparation for long and successful international careers. It
is a sentiment shared by current Brazil tactician Dunga.

The statistics certainly support their belief. Sixty-seven of
the participating players at the 2006 FIFA World Cup were graduates
of the biennial youth event, including three who turned out for
Italy's triumphant side in the final. It represents an
impressive return for a tournament whose field has previously
included only 16 teams.

For the first time, this year's world U-17 finals will
involve 24 squads competing for honours, and as the selected 504
players gear up for an assault on Mexico's crown,
FIFA.com takes a look at some of their celebrated
predecessors.

Argentina and Brazil lead the wayIt is apparent why Dunga values the FIFA U-17 World Cup so
highly. Since assuming the Brazilian reins following Germany 2006,
he has utilised a number of its former headliners, including Peru
2005 standouts Marcelo and Anderson. The latter recently helped the
Seleção win the Copa America 2007, alongside Juan (Ecuador
1995) and Diego (Trinidad and Tobago 2001).

Brazilians have consistently emerged from the competition to
excel for some of the biggest clubs on planet football and reach
the senior national team, among them Andre Cruz (China 1985), Sonny
Anderson (Canada 1987), Julio Cesar, Fabio Aurelio (both Ecuador
1995), Ronaldinho (Egypt 1997) and Adriano (New Zealand 1999).

Although Argentina have yet to conquer the FIFA U-17 World Cup,
they have still used the tournament to introduce some sparkling
talents to the world. The first
Albiceleste superstar-to-be to make his mark on the
championship was Fernando Redondo (China 1985), and the elegant
midfielder preceded the likes of Roberto Abbondanzieri (Scotland
1989), Juan Sebastian Veron, Marcelo Gallardo (both Italy 1991),
Aldo Duscher, Esteban Cambiasso, Pablo Aimar (all Ecuador 1995),
Gabriel Milito (Egypt 1997), Javier Mascherano, Carlos Tevez (both
Trinidad and Tobago 2001) and Fernando Gago (Finland 2003).

Brazil and Argentina are not the only nations across the
Americas to have used the FIFA U-17 World Cup to nurture future
luminaries. Two of Bolivia's greatest all-time players, current
national team selector Erwin Sanchez and his USA 1994 team-mate
Marco Etcheverry, both illuminated the inaugural finals in 1985, as
did Costa Rica legend and now coach Hernan Medford, while USA's
Landon Donovan claimed the adidas Golden Ball at New Zealand 1999
ten years after his compatriot, Claudio Reyna, had radiated on
Scottish soil.

Road to stardom
African sides have enjoyed considerable success at
the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and a number of their starlets have been
able to transcend their form from the junior to the professional
stage. Among the continent's alumni are Ghanaians Samuel
Kuffour (Italy 1991 and Japan 1993), Stephen Appiah (Ecuador 1995)
and Michael Essien (New Zealand 1999), Nigerians Nwankwo Kanu
(Japan 1993) and John Obi Mikel (Finland 2003) and Real
Madrid's Malian midfielder Mahamadou Diarra (Egypt 1997).

Other former students of the showpiece include two-time Asian
Player of the Year Hidetoshi Nakata (Japan 1993) and Australians
Brett Emerton, Harry Kewell (both Ecuador 1995) and Mark Schwarzer
(Scotland 1989), while another goalkeeper who surfaced 18 years ago
was Mohammed Al Deayea. The Saudi Arabian, who has since appeared
in four FIFA World Cups, helped his nation overcome a Scotland side
featuring Brian O'Neil and Paul Dickov in the final.

Azzurrini starlets, Azzurri kingsItaly's FIFA U-17 World revelations comprise Maurizio
Ganz (China 1985) and Francesco Coco (Japan 1993), who both starred
for Milanese giants Inter and AC, and Gianluca Pessotto (Canada
1987), whose devoted, trophy-laden service to Juventus was rewarded
by the club retiring their No7 jersey in his honour.

When it comes to success, though, three of Italy's FIFA
U-17 World Cup graduates stand out from the crowd. Alessandro Del
Piero represented the
Azzurrini on home soil in 1991 and two years later,
goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and playmaker Francesco Totti's
participation in the competition ended in a 4-0 defeat by Ghana,
which sealed their first phase elimination. The pair exacted
revenge by helping the
Azzurri open their 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-0
win over the Black Stars. It was, of course, the opening act in a
campaign which culminated in Italian hands gracing the hallowed
trophy on 9 July in Berlin's Olympiastadion.

The 504 teenagers set to showcase their talents in Korea will
have doubtlessly fantasised about one day competing for the trophy
that the Italian trident, along with Petit and Ronaldinho, have
proudly raised aloft. For some, this opportunity is sure to come as
early as South Africa 2010.